Cox ups Hightower to lead law, policy team

Cox Communications recently promoted Jennifer Hightower to senior vice president of law and policy.

In her new position, Hightower will oversee Cox's compliance, legal operations, litigation and government affairs teams. She will also assume the role of corporate secretary and will serve as our primary legal and policy counsel.

"As the market becomes increasingly competitive, business priorities evolve along with legal and regulatory challenges and compliance," said Mark Bowser, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "Jennifer has the experience and the leadership capabilities to guide us through this changing environment to help us continue to seamlessly deliver the products and services our customers demand."

Hightower joined Cox in 1997 as corporate counsel. Shortly thereafter she was promoted to senior counsel, and eventually assistant general counsel, where she oversaw legal operations.

In 2006, Jennifer was promoted to vice president of regulatory affairs. Since January 2011, Hightower has led the law and policy group on an interim basis while maintaining her role as vice president of regulatory affairs.

The law and policy senior leadership team, reporting to Hightower, includes:

Mark Padilla – Vice president of legal operations

RobinSangston – Vice president of compliance

John Spalding – Vice president of government affairs and chief privacy officer

Kristen Weathersby – Vice president of litigation.

Cox said it was conducting an internal and external candidate search to fill the vice president of regulatory affairs role vacated by Hightower's promotion.